Improvement in metallic collar-boxes



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. K. SNOW.

- METALLIC COLLAR-BOX.

No.188.687. Patented March 20,1877.

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2 Sheets-Sheet Z. G. K. SNOW.

METALLIC COLLAR-BOX. No.188,687. Patented March 20,1877.

WITNESSES. lNvENToR.

N. PETERS, Puomumoemmza. wAsnmsi-ou. o c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE K. SNOW, OF WATERTOWN', ASSIGNOR To REVERSIBLE OOLLAR COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MAsSAoHUsETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC COLLAR-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 188,687, dated March 20, 1877; application filed January 20, 1877.

To all. whom it may concern:

Be it known that .I, GEORGE Snow, of Watertown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts,- have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes for Packing Collars, Gods, and other Dry Merchandise, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification:

My invention relates to the manufacture of boxes for packing collars, cuffs, and other dry merchandise for the retail trade, and has for its object the production of a box to be used for such purposes that shall be strong and durable, and, at the same time, ornamental and capable of being utilized for various household uses after the goods originally packed in it are used out; and it consists in constructing said boxes from thin perforated sheet metal.- or what may be properly termed perforated sheet-metal card-board, so that, when completed, its sides shall present regular and even bars of metal extending in two directions at an angle to each other, with openings between, said openings being circular, square, or of any other desired shape,but of uniform shape and size, and equidistant from each other, and cutting away sufficient-of the metal to render objects contained therein, or letters or figures printed or stamped on the lining, visible through said openings, as will be more fully described hereafter.

My invention further consists in constructing said boxes from sheet metal, with the entire surface thereof pierced with a series of small holes of uniform. shape and size, arranged in regular order and equidistant apart, and cutting away sufficient of the metal to render objects contained in said box readily visible through said openings.

My invention further consists in the combination,with a box having its vertical sides made of sheet metal or card-board, of an inside lining of paper, cloth, or other equivalent flexible material placed in contact with the inner surface of the metal box, so that said lining may be seen through the meshes or perforations of the metal box, as a means of excluding dust from the interior of the box, and also as a means of ornamentation, said lining being colored in suitable bright colors or plain,

and may be further ornamented by printing, stain ping, or otherwise affixing thereon figures or designs in colors contrasting with that of the general surface of the lining, said figures or designs being seen through the perforations of the box.

My invention further consists in making a box from perforated sheet metal, with a narrow strip at the upper edge of the box left without being perforated, in order to insure a smooth edge to facilitate the placing of the cover on the box.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view of my improved box. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same, showing the inside lining in section. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the box with the cover removed. Fig. 4 illustrates the manner of using the box as a flour-Sifter or a soap-holder; and Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, a horizontal and a central vertical section of the box with lining removed, and illustrating its use as a spoolthread holder.

A is the cylindrical body of the box; B, the bottom, and G the cover, all made from sheet metal, about one-half, more or less, of the sur face of which is cut away by punching therein a series of holes of uniform shape and size,

arranged at a uniform distance from each other and in parallel rows, which material I term perforated sheet-metal card-board, so as to render the walls of the box sufficiently open to make objects placed therein, or a highly or variously colored lining, visible through said perforations.

In some cases, if desired, the bottom and cover may, one or both, be made of plain sheet metal without perforations.

It is a well-known fact that large quantities of small boxes are manufactured every year in which are packed collars, cuffs, and various kinds of light dry merchandise, and in which the same is sold to the consumer.

These boxes have generally been made of pasteboard, and serve the purpose of a receptacle for the goods until the collars or other goods are used up, when the box, being of no practical use on account of its frail nature or damaged condition, is usually consigned to the Waste-basket or ash-heap, or used to kindle a fire.

Quite a desire seems to have sprung up of late among consumers of collars and cuffs for ornamental or fancy boxes as receptacles therefor, and it is to gratify this demand, and at the same time present to the public a box that may be applied to various practical uses after it has served its legitimate purpose of an inclosure for the collars or cuffs originally packed therein, that this invention has been made.

A box made as above described presents a very neat and ornamental appearance of itself, and may be still further ornamented by placing a thin paper or other lining, a, in close contact with the inside of the box, the outer surface of said lining being plain or colored, to suit the taste, or having printed, stamped, or otherwise affixed thereon figures or designs, as shown at b, Fig. 3, where the outlines of a Grecian cross are indicated by representing the perforations by circles instead of being filled in solid black, as in all other places.

The name and number of the collars or cufl's contained in the box may also be printed upon the lining a, so as to be read through the perforations.

The lining serves to keep out the dust, and also prevents the tinned surface of the metal from blacking the collars or cuffs.

When the collars or cuffs have been used and the box is no longer desired as a receptacle for collars or cufl's, the lining is readily removed, and the box may be applied to any one of quite a number of practical household uses-such, for instance, as follows:

It may be used as a flour or meal sifter by filling it with flour or meal and holding in the hand, as shown in Fig. i, shaking it over the bread pan or board in an obvious manner.

It may also be used to advantage in a similar manner as a soap holder, for soaping water while too hot to put the hands in.

It may also be advantageously used as a spool-thread holder, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

Another use to which it may be put is as a foundation upon which may be worked orna mental designs in worsted or flosssilk, in the same manner that such designs are worked on perforated card-board, thereby producing a very pretty ornamental box, and one that is much more durable than can be made from card-board.

One of these boxes may also be made of practical utility in a family by using it as a strainer for starch, coffee, tea, and other liquids.

It may also be used as a steamer for cooking various kinds of food, and would be very advantageous in cases where several kinds of food are to be cooked in the same vessel and it is not desired to have them mixed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure 3. A box provided with a cover, and having its vertical wall pierced with a series of small holes of uniform shape and size, arranged in regular order and equidistant apart, in combination with a lining of paper, cloth, or other flexible material, the outer surface of which is plain or colored, or has printed, stamped, or otherwise affixed thereon letters, figures, or ornamental designs, adapted to be viewed through the perforations in the box, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A box made of sheet metal, and having its entire surface, except a narrow strip around the edge of the cylindrical portion, pierced with a series of small holes of uniform shape and size, arranged in regular order and equidistant apart, substantially as and for the purposes described.

Executed at Boston, Massachusetts, this 16th day of January, A. D. 1877.

GEO. K. SNOW.

Witnesses N. O. LOMBARD, BENJ. ANDREWS, Jr. 

